Are you prepared to learn about some weird customs and traditions of the world? Most countries the world over have their own customs, religions and beliefs. Some age-old traditions are unique, and a few are downright weird.
Let’s check some of the strangest traditions that people follow across the globe.
Don’t Touch the Salt Shaker in Egypt
If you are planning to visit Egypt or invited for an outing, there is one thing you should know- Beware of asking for salt when you are at your host’s place. For Egyptians, this act is equivalent to insulting the host.
Finger-Cutting Ritual for Women by the Dani Tribe
Finger cutting tradition is an unjust ritual practised in Indonesia, which women of the Dani sept have to follow. When someone in the family dies, the tribe’s women have to suffer dual pain. This weird custom of cutting fingers is supposed to satisfy ancestral ghosts. The upper half of the fingers are cut-off in the ritual. This practice is called Ikipalin and was banned by the Indonesian government a few years ago.
Eating the Newborn Baby’s Placenta
In China, Jamaica and some parts of India, eating the baby’s placenta is a tradition after birth. A mother eats the placenta of her child after giving birth in order to take in its nutrients.
Walking Over Hot Coal in China
In China, a husband carries his pregnant wife barefoot over burning coal. The tradition is believed to bring easy delivery for the wife. This weird tradition of walking over coal brings pain to the husband to ease out the pain during the wife’s labour.
Eating the Ashes of a Dead Family Member
Isn’t it a little far-fetched tradition? In the Yonamamo tribe from Venezuela and Brazil, the remains of the loved one get split up amongst the family members, who eat the ashes. The tradition forbids them to keep any part of the body with them. Hence, this strange custom.
Whoa. Flinging the Baby From Top of Temple in India
Newborn babies, mainly in Karnataka, are tossed from a height of 50 feet from the Sri Santeswar Temple, and caught in cloth by their families. Couples follow this 500-year-old tradition once they are blessed with a baby after taking a vow at this temple. It is believed to bring good luck to infants.
Monkey Buffet Festival – A Feast for Monkeys in Bangkok
The annual event is held in Bangkok’s Lopburi city, where a spread of over 3,000 kgs of fruits and vegetables is laid out on banquet tables for monkeys to gorge upon. The festival was started by a businessman, to attract tourists interested in seeing the animals, which were considered as the heritage of the region.
Tooth Filing Before Marriage in Bali
Unlike the majority of us who file our nails, many men and women in Bali have their teeth filed while prepping for marriage. Smoothed teeth symbolise control over negative emotions like lust, greed, anger and jealousy.
Wear Rings to Attain a Giraffe’s Neck
The Karen tribe in Thailand has this crazy love for long necks and can go to any lengths to achieve them. To do so, the women of the tribe have to wear rings around their necks to look beautiful.
Bathroom Ban for Three Days After Marriage
The Indonesian Tidong community prohibits newlyweds from using the washroom for three days. If they ever break the rules, it’s said to bring them bad luck in their married life.
These were some weird customs followed across the world. How many of these customs shock you for real? Share the one that you feel is the weirdest of all in the comments section below.
